1) A wannabe thug, often illiterate and an inhabitant of a downtrodden ghetto that hangs around in "gangs"; largely associated with the African-American subculture. These try-hard wanna be "gangstas" attempt to make themselves appear like real criminals by graffiting buildings, smoking/selling drugs and trying to looking all "bad-ass and macho an'-shit, yo". An utter degradation of what true gangsters represent (see below), and street wannabe "gangsta"-types don't hold a candle to what real gangsters are.

2) The *real* gangsters are those behind organised crime; most notably the Mafia. Responsible for blackmarket trade, epsionage, organised beatings/assassinations, etc. "The Godfather" portrays the archtype of true gangsters, showing the brutality of mob beatings, shootings, running rackets and abusing woman, alcohol and everything in between. The real gansters are *not* to be confused with the aforementioned definition, commonly used as it might be.

The Urban Dictionary T-Shirt

Crip Lover BK 4 Life, you are an IDIOT. The first gangsters were not African-American, they were Italian. There are MILLIONS of white gangsters out there that aren't wankstas any more than your average Crip or Blood is.

Al Capone was a gangster. Tony Soprano is a gangster. Crip Lover BK 4 Life is NOT a gangster. Ja Rule is NOT a gangster.

The Urban Dictionary T-Shirt

An individual who is a member of an organization that profits through organized crime. Also known as Mobsters. The guys in South Central strapped with guns and carrying large amounts of weed are more commonly known as 'gangbangers', not to be confused with 'gangsters', though both are equally dangerous.

Gangsters/Mobsters:Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, John Gotti.

Gangbangers:Bloods,Crips, most other South Central street fraternities.